5 months ago
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Tosin Adarabioyo has confirmed the influence of two current Chelsea stars helped sway his decision to join the Blues and snub interest from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool.
The 26-year-old’s departure from Fulham was confirmed by Chelsea’s west London rivals earlier this week following the expiration of his contract.
Liverpool and Newcastle had registered an interest in the experienced defender, while Manchester United were understood to have made a late move and attempted to hijack his transfer to Stramford Bridge.
That effort, however, ended in failure and Chelsea have now unveiled Adarabioyo as the first signing of the Enzo Maresca era.
The commanding centre-half will be surrounded by several familier faces at his new club given he grew up at Manchester City around the likes of Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling, while he also knows Willy Cabalero, who will form part of Maresca’s coaching team, well from his time at the Etihad Stadium.
‘I spent two or three years with Raz and Willy, and I spent most of my youth journey with Cole,’ he explained.
‘Before confirming the move, I gave Raz and Cole a call and they had nothing but positive things to say about the club and the project, and how excited they were that I was coming to the club.
‘Cole is younger than me but I remember him from younger days alongside a few of the other boys that I’ve met along the way like Ben Chilwell – Chilly and I were both captains in the FA Youth Cup semi-finals.
I also know Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja because he spent time at Fulham.’
Chelsea’s need for defensive reinforcements was heightened by the departure of Thiago Silva at the end of last season but Adarabioyo is confident he can fill the void.
He added: ‘I’ve developed leaps and bounds,’ he continued. ‘I’ve become a man and established myself as a top Premier League centre-half. That’s why I’ve joined Chelsea.
‘Being a leader comes to me naturally. It’s something that is required of a centre-half. It’s an important responsibility. I want to come here and push the boys on as much as we can.’
Maresca, meanwhile, is yet to be officially unveiled by Chelsea as their new head coach, but Adarabioyo cannot wait to get started and work under his new boss.
He said: ‘I’m looking forward to starting work with Enzo and I’m sure the boys are too,’ he added.
‘It’s going to be exciting. We’re going to play good football and win a lot of games. There are top players in this squad and I’m eager to play with them all.’
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